placebo + vasopressin

The combination of placebo and vasopressin refers to a specific experimental treatment arm used in clinical research conducted by Hoffmann-La Roche, particularly in the context of developing balovaptan (RG7314) for autism spectrum disorder (ASD). In these studies, subjects receive a placebo (matching the oral small molecule balovaptan) alongside a single dose of intranasal arginine vasopressin (AVP). This combination serves as a pharmacological challenge to activate the vasopressin V1a receptor pathway, providing a baseline for brain activity and connectivity as measured by functional MRI. This benchmark allows researchers to evaluate the efficacy of balovaptan, a selective V1a receptor antagonist, in blocking these effects. Arginine vasopressin is a naturally occurring nonapeptide hormone that acts as an agonist at V1a, V1b, and V2 receptors, playing a critical role in social cognition, bonding, and fluid homeostasis.

Other names

placebo + arginine vasopressinplacebo + AVPplacebo + AVP-Hoffmann-La Roche-autism spectrum disorder